Hat with shape-changeable visor or brim

ABSTRACT

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a hat comprises a hat body put on a user&#39;s head and a visor externally projecting from the hat body. The visor comprises a pair of upper and lower external layers and a core material formed between the pair of upper and lower external layers. The core material includes a base material formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric and a variable resin layer formed by applying a thermoplastic resin having a low melting point onto the base material, The variable resin layer is formed of a low melting point thermoplastic polyester resin with a softening point of 80° C. to 110° C.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2014-0005607, filed on Jul. 25, 2014, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to hats with a shape-changeable visor or brim, and more specifically, to hats with a brim that may be changed in shape by a user.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

A conventional hat may include a hat body that is put on the user's head and a visor projecting frontward from the hat body. The visor functions to block sun and affects the overall design of is the hat.

The visor usually has a fixed shape upon manufacture, rendering it difficult for the user to change its shape. Accordingly, the conventional hat cannot meet the needs of the customer who desires to appear to be more stylish using the hat.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a hat comprises a hat body put on a user's head and a visor externally projecting from the hat body. The visor comprises a pair of upper and lower external layers and a core material formed between the pair of upper and lower external layers. The core material includes a base material formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric and a variable resin layer formed by applying a thermoplastic resin having a low melting point onto the base material. The variable resin layer is formed of a low melting point thermoplastic polyester resin with a softening point of 50° C. to 110° C.

The low melting point thermoplastic polyester resin may be prepared by mixing and esterifying terephthalic acid of 100 parts by weight, isophthalic acid of 50 to 75 parts by weight, ethylene glycol of 60 to 75 parts by weight, and diethylene glycol of 3 to 13 parts by weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of the attendant aspects thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a tat with a shape-changeable visor according to an embodiment of the present invention:

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1, according an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an expanded perspective view illustrating a core material used for a hat with a shape-changeable visor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views illustrating examples of the use of a hat with a shape-changeable visor according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a hat with a shape-changeable brim according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of the use of a hat with a shape-changeable brim according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of the use of a hat with a shape-changeable brim according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference denotations, may be used to refer to the same or similar elements throughout the specification and the drawings. The inventive concept, however, may be modified in various different ways, and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “adjacent to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected, coupled, or adjacent to the other element: or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a hat with a shape-changeable visor according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an expanded perspective view is illustrating a core material, used for a hat with a shape-changeable visor according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 4 and 5 are views illustrating examples of the use of a hat with a shape-changeable visor according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the hat with a shape-changeable visor includes a hat body 100 put on the user's head and a visor 200 projecting frontward from the hat body 100. The hat body 100 may have substantially the same configuration as the hat body of a known hat.

The visor 200 may include a pair of outer layers 210 and 220 formed of, e.g., fabric, and a core material 230 between the outer layers 210 and 220. The core material 230 may include a base material 232 formed of, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric and a variable resin layer 234 formed on the base material 232, e.g., by applying a thermoplastic resin with a low melting point onto the base material 232.

The variable resin layer 234 may be formed of a thermoplastic resin having a low melting point and thus may be softened at a relatively low temperature. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the variable resin layer 234 may be softened using a hair dryer or iron to change the shape of the core material 230.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the variable resin layer 234 may be formed of a low melting point thermoplastic polyester resin with a softening point of about 80° C. to about 110° C.

For example, the variable resin layer 234 may be softened using a hair dryer blowing hot air of about 70° C. to about 100° C.

The low melting point thermoplastic polyester resin may be formed by mixing and esterifying terephthalic acid of 100 parts by weight, isophthalic acid of 50 to 75 parts by weight, ethylene glycol of 60 to 75 parts by weight, and diethylene glycol of 3 to 13 parts by weight.

The base material 232 may provide a predetermined thickness to the core material 230 although the variable resin layer 234 is not firmed to be relatively thick. The visor 200 may have a predetermined thickness in light of design or function, e.g., for blocking sun.

When the core member 230 is formed of the variable resin 234 without the base material 232, the variable resin layer 234 may have a relatively large thickness, and relatively more heat may be required to soften the variable resin layer 234, thus causing inconvenience.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base material 232 is provided on the variable resin layer 234, thus providing a proper thickness to the core material 230 although the variable resin layer 234 is formed relatively thin.

According, to an embodiment of the present invention, two core members 230 may be stacked one over the other as shown in FIG. 2, providing a proper thickness to the visor 200. When multiple core materials 230 each having a variable resin layer 234 formed relatively thin are used, the core materials 230 may be more easily deformed as compared with when one core material 230 with a variable resin layer 234 formed relatively thick.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, various numbers of core materials 230 may be used to adjust the thickness of the visor 200. An adhesive layer 209 may be provided between two neighboring core materials 230 to attach the core materials 230 with each other as shown in FIG. 2.

The base material 232 is formed of PET fabric, and the variable resin layer 234 is formed of a low melting point-thermoplastic polyester resin. The base material 232 and the variable resin layer 234 may be formed of a similar rope of resin, and thus, the base material 232 and the variable resin layer 234 may be attached well to each other.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an example of the use of a hat is described.

The user may use a hair dryer or iron to change the shape of the visor 200. For example, the user may apply hot air from the hair dryer to the visor 200 to soften the variable resin layer 234. When the variable resin layer 234 is softened to some degree, the user may change the visor 200 to his desired shape and cool the visor 200.

When the visor 200 is cooled, the variable resin layer 234 is hardened, remaining at the changed shape, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which the visor 200 is hardened to form an arch shape, and FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which an end portion of the visor 200 is curled upwards.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a hat with a shape-changeable brim according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating, an example of the use of a hat with a shape-changeable brim according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of the use of a hat with a shape-changeable brim according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Examples in which embodiments of the present invention apply to hats with a brim are described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

The hat may be, e.g., a fedora or soldier's hat having a hat body 100 and a brim 200 around a bottom end of the hat body 100. The brim 200 may be formed to have substantially the same structure as the visor 200 described above with FIGS. 1 to 5. Accordingly, the user may change the shape of the brim 200 in various desired shapes.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the user may change the shape of the visor or brim of the hat in various shapes to fit his preference.

The user may easily change the shape of the visor or brim of the hat using a hair dryer or iron.

As such, the user may create various styles with one hat, thus eliminating the need for purchasing several hats with different styles if design.

Although the hat having a visor (e.g., a baseball cap) or brim (e.g., a fedora) has been described above for example, it should be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that embodiments of the present invention may also apply to any other types of hats.

While the inventive concept has been shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hat, comprising: a hat body put on a user's head; and a visor externally projecting from the hat body, wherein the visor comprises: a pair of upper and lower external layers, and a core material formed between the pair of upper and lower external layers, the core material including a base material formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric and a variable resin layer formed by applying a thermoplastic resin having a law melting point onto the base material, and wherein the variable resin layer is formed of a low melting point thermoplastic polyester resin with a softening point of 80° C. to 110° C.
 2. The hat of claim 1, wherein the low melting point thermoplastic polyester resin is prepared by mixing and esterifying terephthalic acid of 100 parts by weight, isophthalic acid of 50 to 75 parts by weight, ethylene glycol of 60 to 75 parts by weight, and diethylene glycol of 3 to 13 parts by weight. 